Sewing-machine



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MA. DONOVAN.- Sewmg Maohlne Patented Jan. 25, I881.

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Patented Jan. 25,1881.

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' Sewing Machine. Patented Jan; 25, I881.

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' To all whom it'mcty concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL A.DONOVAN, of Randolph, in the county ofNorfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear,concise, and exact description, reference being bad to I. theaccompanying drawin gs, making a part hereof.

The main object of my invention is to secure the passage of the shuttlethrough the loop,especially in those machines in which a hooked needleand waxed thread are used; and my invention consists, mainly, in a novelcombination of a shuttle and hooked needle, and in a novel constructionof the shuttle, its race, and driver, my main purpose being to make ahooked-needle waxed-thread sewing-machine in which the shuttle is sureto enter the loop of thread presented to it by the hooked needle, and topasswithout undue strain through that loop, the main difficulty in usinga shuttle with a hooked needle being to make it certain that theshuttle-shall enter the loop, and the main difficulty in using ashuttle, with a waxed thread being to make it certain-that the shuttleshall pass through the loop without undue strain.

The shuttle provided with side bearings and having its nose or pointmidway between these hearings, so that it will be supported by its raceon both sides and have its point midway between the walls of therace,-constitutes-another important feature of my invention.

The shuttle-driver below described, adapted to be supported by and movedin the shuttlerace,'is also new with me, in that it has arms extendingfrom its main portion along both sides of theshuttle and overlapping thenose of the shuttle, its main portion adapted to act on the butt of theshuttle and its arms adapted to act on each side ofthe shuttle-nose.

- The distinguishing characteristic of my invention, however, consistsin the combination of a shuttle and a hooked needle in such a way thatthe lineof motion of the needle intersects the'line ofmotionofthe pointof the shuttle. 1 By this combination the point of the'shuttle isbrought, when the shuttle moves forward, into the loop of theneedle-thread with certainty, even when the machineis running at aMICHAEL A. DONOVAN, OF RANDOLPH, MASSAOHUSETTS.

SEWING-MACHINE.

"SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 236,938, dated January25, 1881.

- Application filed December 22, 1873.

very high speed, and the hooked needle being below the shuttle, and theloop being securely held in the hook, there is no danger of the loopbeing displaced. This combination is wholly new with me, so far as Iknow. So long as the hooked needle and shuttle are accurately adjustedto cause the line of motion of the one to intersect that of the other.the shuttle-point will enter the loop of the needle-thread withcertainty, even if the needle be small and the speed high.

In using waxed thread, which is sticky, it is very desirable to use adouble race, one raceway on each side of the shuttle, and with theextremity of the V-shaped nose of the shuttle midway between the wallsof the race. This also constitutes a portion of my invention ofconsiderable practical value and importance, heretofore all shuttlesknown to me having been arranged with the points close up to one wall ofthe race.

The other portions of my invention consist in various combinations ofthe parts above named with themselves and with other parts, fullydescribed below, all of which 1 have found it best to use in making apracticallyworking waxed thread shuttle sewing machine.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sewing-machineembodying my invention, the overhanging arm being removed. Fig. 2 is adetached view of all the mechanism for giving its up-and-down movementto the needle, with the exception of the shaft, the shaft being removed,in order that the rest of the mechanism may be. clearly seen. Fig. 3 isa view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2, taken from the outside of themachine, part of the frame of the machine being broken away. Fig. 4 is aplan of the mechanism for controlling the movements of the needle. Fig.5 is a plan showing the shuttle, shuttle-race, and shuttle-driver. Fig.6 is a longitudinal section through the middle of the shuttle andshuttle-race shown in Fig. 5. Figs. 7 and 8 are cross-sections of theshuttle and shuttlerace, Fig. 7 looking toward the nose of the shuttle,and Fig. 8 toward the butt. Fig. 9 is an under view of the parts shownin Fig. 5. Fig.'10 is a longitudinal section, showing the frame, thethroat-plate, and portions of the shuttle-race, the rest of the machinebeing broken away. Figs.1l and 12 illustrate means for actuating theshuttle; and Figs. 13, 14. and 15, means for regulating the length ofstitch. Figs. 16, 17, 18, and 19 are diagrams showing the forms of thecams used to actuate the shuttle and needle-bar, and also how they aretimed with respect to each other to effect the required result, all aswill be fully explained below. Fig. 20 is a plan, showing the parts ofmy invention in place except the throat-plate, this being removed inorder that the position of the parts below it maybe the betterunderstood.

The machine shown in the drawings is a common form of a wax threadsewing machine with my improvements applied to it. The needle 0 is ahooked needle mounted in the needle-bar E, which reciprocates in avertical groove in the horizontal slide G, and this slide is mounted inways H H, H H, all in the usual way. except that I prefer to put onepair of ways, H H, on one side of the slide G, and the other pair,H H,on the other side. This slide G is reciprocated by means of a bell-cranklever, one arm of which is connected, by means of a pimp, to a cam-slotin the wheel L, while the other arm, N, is connected, by a pin, n, to astraight slot in a piece attached to the slide in the proper manner, allin the usual way. The purpose of this slide G is of course to feed thematerial to be sewed, and in Figs. 13, 14, and 15 is shown one of manyknown means for regulating the length of stitch. The pin 11 isadjustable in a slot in arm N, and it slides in a slot in a block, 11,attached to the slide G.

The needlebar E is fast to the slotted piece F, and receives its motionfrom this piece F, which is moved by the pin I, and this pin I is fastto a lever, J, which lever is actuated by the pin m on the wheel L, allin the usual way, except that I have formed a slot in the lever J, soshaped, in view of the revolution of the pin m, as to give the desiredmotions to the needle. (See Figs. 16, 17, 18, and 19.)

The shuttle-driver D is actuated by a bellcrank lever, which, forconvenience. is pivoted to a stud on the upper wall of the machine. Onearm of the bell-crank lever 1) is connected to a cam, D on the mainshaft, which cam is so shaped (see Figs. 16, 17, 18, and 19) as to givethe desired motions to the driver, and the other arm, D, is pivoted to alink, k,which is pivoted to the shuttle-driver I) by the screw k, asillustrated by Figs. 11 and 12 ofthe drawings, and shown with the otherparts in Fig.20.

The shuttle G is provided with a needle-point, a, (which I prefer tosecure by a set-screw, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6,) in order that it maymore readily enter the loop of the needlethread before it is spread.lthas tongues projecting from each side and from its front end, adaptedto enter grooves in the shuttle-race, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and9. Its nose is V-shaped, and a wire bow, q, extends on the under sidefrom its nose to its butt.

The race consists of four parts, A A and B B, which are grooved toreceive the tongues of the shuttle, and arranged as shown in thedrawings. The parts B B are pivoted to the frame, and are held withtheir pointed ends near each other by the spring t, which is preventedfrom drawing these ends too near together by the stops h h.

The shuttle-driver D has two arms, which lie above the race, and it isheld in the race by tongues, which project from each side of its rearpart and enter the grooves in the race.

The pin b, mounted in the lever P, may be called a cast-off, as itsfunction is to free the loop from the hook on the needle. The lever 1,which carries it, is pivoted to the slide G, and is pulled in onedirection by the spring f. This springf forces the lever P against thestop 0 when the needle is in the fabric, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4,so that when the slide G is moved to feed the fabric the fulcrum of thelever P is carried forward or away from the stop e, (that fulcrum beingfast to slide G,) and the pin b, thus pressed against the back side ofthe needle 0 by the springffor the stop 0, is all that prevents thelever I and its pin b from being pulled forward by springj'until the pinb rests against the needle; and as the fulcrum of the .lever P iscarried back to the left in Fig. 3, the lever P moves on its fulcrumuntil the pin b rests against the back of the needle. When the needle 0descends low enough the pin b is pulled over its point by the springf,but pre vented from going too far by the lever P striking the stop (1,fast to the slide G.

The frame is marked .z'and the throat-plate g.

I have not shown in the drawings the overhanging arm or its attachments,as my present invention does not relate to those parts. All that isnecessary to make a practical working machine embodying myinvention istoattach to the machine shown in the drawings the ordinary overhangingarm and its appliances in common use in hooked-needle sewing-machines ofthis kind, adapting to it any of the well-known take-ups in use in thecommon shuttle sewing-machine.

Operation As the machine starts, the awl descends and makes a hole forthe needle to rise through. As the awl rises, the needle passes upthrough the hole made by the aw], the thread is placed in the hook ofthe nedle by the looper, the needle is moved sidewise horizontally awayfrom the operator, who sits facing the side of the machine, with theflywheel on his right hand. There is the usual slot in the throat-plateto allow this sidewise motion, and the amount of this sidewise mo tionis equal to the desired length of stitch. When the needle has movedsidewise far enough to make the desired length of stitch, and theneedle-thread has been placed in its hook, it descends. During itsdescent, and as soon as it has got so low that its point is below thenose of the shuttle, the shuttle receives a slight forward motion, whichcarries its l l t i point into the loop of the needle-thread. After theneedle is at, or nearly at, its lowest point, the shuttle receives asecond forward motion, while the loop isstill held by the needle, and iscarried by this second forward motion far enough forward to cause itsnose to enter the loop. These two motions of the shuttle may be one 5but it is desirable to have two with a rest between. After theshuttle-nose is well into the loop the needle receives a slight upwardmotion, to remove the loop from its hook. This removing the loop isaccomplished as follows: During the descent of the needle the castofipin 1) is pressed, bythe sprin g f, against the back side of the needle,as described above, so that when the needle descends low enough the pinis drawn forward by the spring over the point of the needle and againstthe loop. This slight upward motion of the needle then takes place, andas the :loop is prevented from rising by the pin b it is pulled. out ofthe hook in the needle. As soon as the needle 00111 pletes this slightupward motion the shuttle is'moved forward rapidly, spreading the loop,and carrying the loop over the inclined ends of the movable parts B B ofthe race, and opening these movable parts, the'tongues on each sideofthe nose of the shuttle entering the grooves in these parts B B, andmakingit practically impossible for the loop of the needlethread to becarried forward by the shuttle. By this last motion the shuttle iscarried as far forward as itcan go. These motions of the shuttle are allimparted to it, of course, by the shuttle-driver, which is in contactwith the butt of the shuttle, and when the shuttle has thus completedits forward motion the driver receives a slight backward motion, justsufficient to move the driver far enough from the butt of the shuttle toallow the needle-thread to pass freely between them. The needle, aftercompleting this slight upward motion, dwells a little in that position,so as to make sure of the loop being drawn out of its hook, and thendescends again, and moves sidewise under 'the pin 1). As this sidewisemotion of the needle is caused by the motion of the slide G, the lever Pis also moved sidewise at the same time, so that it strikes the stop 0,and its upper end, carrying the pin b,is therefore moved in a contrarydirection over the needle, so that the needle and pin 1) are broughtinto the proper relative position for the next stitch. The needle-threadis drawn up off the slanting ends of the movable parts of the race,passing between these ends and the forward ends of the stationary race,and between the driver and the butt of the shuttle, and is tightened toform the stitch in any usual way.

It will be clear from the above description that the movable parts B Bof the race are not essential for preventing the loop of needlethreadfrom being pushed forward by the shuttle when a hooked needle is used,for the reason thatthe hooked needle holds the thread until it isreleased by the cast-off; but if these movable parts be dispensed withthe cast-off pin b must be brought close up under the shuttle, and theupward motion of the needle, after the loop is in contact with thecast-off pin, must be so regulated that it will slacken the loopsufficiently to allow the shuttle to pass through, and yet not bring itshook above the cast-off pin until the shuttle has got nearly or quitethrough. If the needle does not slacken the thread sufficiently,theshuttle mustbe made to open the loop, as in the ordinary shuttlemachine. This is an important feature of my invention, and its principleconsists in the use of the pin in such relation to the hooked needlethat the loop of needle thread will be brought upon one side of the pinand the needle on the other with its hook toward the pin, in order thatwhen the mouth of the hook is above the level of the pin the thread willbe readily disengaged from the hook. I have shown and describedmechanism which I believe to be the best mode, on the whole, of applyingthat principle; but I have contemplated applying it by attaching thecast-01f pin to some other moving part than the feed-slide, and also byusing a stationary cast-oh" pin, and so altering the cam-groove in theface of the wheel L and in the lever J as to carry the point of theneedle under the stationary castoff pin, elevate the needle sufficientlyto bring its hook above thelevel of the pin, retract the needle, andmove it back again sidewise into position for its ascent. All that isnecessary is to give such a motion either to the needle alone, or to theneedle and also to the cast-oft pin, that the loop of the thread, whilein the hook of the needle, shall be brought on one side of the cast-offpin and the needle on the other side, with the mouth of its hook nextthe pin and elevated suficiently to allow the thread to be drawn out.

The'parts B B prevent the loop of needlethread from being drawn forwardby the shuttle, and make it unnecessary to rely upon the book of theneedle to hold it.

The shape of the cam for actuating the shuttle will be understood byreference to the diagrams in Figs. 16, 17, 18, and 19. In the upper partof each of these figures is shown one position of the pin m on the wheelL and the corresponding position of the lever J. In the lower part ofeach figure is shown the position of the roll D on the arm D of thebellcrank lever which operates the shuttle-driver, when the pin on is inthe position shown in the upper part of the same figure.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination of the shuttle Gwith the hooked needle 0 and'the lever carrying the cast-off pin 11, andtheir actuating mechanism, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the strippers B B, pivoted and provided with thespringi and the shuttle G, with the hooked needle 0 and the levercarrying the cast-off pin 1) and their actuatin g mechanism,substantially as described.

3. The combination of the hooked needle a, lever 1?, provided with thecast-off pin b and IIO spring f, with the feed-slide G, provided withstops at and e, substantially as described.

4. The shuttle-race above described, consisting of the stationary partsA A and the parts B B, provided with spring 1', one end of each of theparts B B being pivoted, the other ends being adapted to be separatedfrom each other by the shuttle in its forward motion, all substantiallyas set forth.

5. A sewing-machine shuttle provided with side bearings, whereby it isadapted to be supported on each side by the shuttle-race, and having itspoint midway between these beariug's, substantially as described.

6. In combination, the double raceway A A B B and the shuttle (J.supported on both sides by the race, with its point a midway between thewalls of the race, substantially as described.

7. In combination, thehooked needle 0, shuttle C, and race A A B B, therace supporting the shuttle on both sides, and the needle and the pointof the shuttle adapted to more midway between the walls of the race,substantially as described.

8. The shuttle-driver I), provided with bearings by which it is adaptedto be supported and moved in the race, and with two side arms adapted toreceive the shuttle between them,

its main portion adapted to act on the butt of 0 the shuttle, and itsarms adapted to act on each side of the shuttle-nose, all substantiallyas described.

9. In combination, the shuttle 0, its driver D, and the race AA B B, theshuttle having its point amidway between the walls of the race, and bothshuttle and driver supported by and moving in the race, allsubstantially as described.

10. In a shuttle sewing-machine, the combination, with the shuttle,having side bearings, and its driver, also having side bearings, of arace supporting both the driver and shuttle, the side bearings of bothengaging with the same race, substantially as described.

11. The combination of the needle-bar E, the bar F, the feed-slide G,the cam-slotted lever J, provided with the pin 1, the crankdisk providedwith the pin m, and shaft k, substantiall y as described.

MICHAEL AGUSTINE DONOVAN.

Witnesses:

LUKE OREILLY, J osnrn DONOVAN.

